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Electronics => PCB/EDA/CAD => KiCad => Topic started by: sokoloff on May 12, 2017, 07:21:40 pm

Title: Two parts on schematic mapping to one part on PCB - possible/how?
Post by: sokoloff on May 12, 2017, 07:21:40 pm

Using KiCad to layout a PCB for a home sprinkler system project. I have a desire to draw the schematic with six 2-pin connectors and build the PCB with 3 4-pin connectors.

Logically, there are 6 2-pin devices that will connect to the board. Physically, I will use 6 2-pin devices that will plug into the 3 4-pin connectors. (I'm using 2EDG 5.08 ("Phoenix") 2p connectors for zone connections. 2 2p connectors will plug into a single 4p jack, which is what I want to use on the PCB.)

Workarounds I've considered:
1. Drawing the schematic using the physical parts I intend to use, logic be damned. (This is presumably what I'd do with a multi-op-amp in a single package.)

2. Making the PCB with 2 2p jacks and just ensuring that I lay them out carefully, such that a 4p socket will fit into the holes/pads nicely.

3. Asking on EEVBlog if there's a better way than #1 or #2 above, so here I am.

Thanks for any insight, even if it's just weighing in on whether #1 or #2 makes more sense to you. I'm leaning towards #2 at the moment.

Title: Re: Two parts on schematic mapping to one part on PCB - possible/how?
Post by: fable on May 12, 2017, 09:58:59 pm

Create schematic symbol with two bodies and then associate it with 4 pin part

Title: Re: Two parts on schematic mapping to one part on PCB - possible/how?
Post by: oldnewb on May 13, 2017, 07:05:07 pm

What fable said.  The official eeschema docs discuss the concept: http://docs.kicad-pcb.org/stable/en/eeschema.html#multiple-units-per-component-and-alternate-body-styles (http://docs.kicad-pcb.org/stable/en/eeschema.html#multiple-units-per-component-and-alternate-body-styles)

Title: Re: Two parts on schematic mapping to one part on PCB - possible/how?
Post by: sokoloff on May 13, 2017, 10:46:00 pm

Makes sense. Thanks, both!